Filling machine



April 6, 1943. D. M. M BEAN FILLING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR Dousms M. McBm/v 4.- .wga' AIM/2M ATTORNEYS April 6, 1943. D. M. M BEAN FILLING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R O T N E V m 3 [gel/6M5 M. MCBEAN WVafi/ZM TTORNEYS D. M. M BEAN FILLING MACHINE April 6, 1943.

Filed March 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I DOUGLAS M. M0554 F' Wgdgw Patented Apr. 6, 1943 FILLING MACHINE Douglas M. McBean, Rochester, N. Y., asslgnor to Beech-Nut Packing Company, Canajoharie, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 19, 1940, Serial No. 324,845

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to filling machines, and has special reference to machines for depositing predetermined quantities of material in cans.

In the manufacture and canning of certain kinds of soup, it is customary to place a predetermined quantity of garnish in the cans previously to the filling of the cans with the liquid part of the soup. This garnish may consist of vegetables cut in sizes one and one-eighth to one and one-quarter by three thirty-seconds to one-eighth inches. The pieces are previously tumbled so as to be mixed together with melted butter, the whole mass being more or less interlocked and stuck together.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine which is particularly adapted for depositing the garnish material in the cans, and which is simple in construction and highly efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine of the character indicated.

The several features of the invention, whereby the above-mentioned and other objects may be attained, will be readily understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section and with certain parts broken away, of a machine embodying the features of my invention in their preferred form;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with certain parts in section and parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The machine illustrated in the drawings, comprises a hopper 2 for receiving the garnish and melted butter mass, a feeding device comprising two shafts 4 that carry radially projecting spokes 6, a double pitch worm or screw conveyor 8 at the bottom of the hopper for feeding the material from the hopper and through a sleeve I0 having a discharge opening or nozzle l2 at the end thereof, a table l4 for receiving the material from the nozzle l2 having-a series of circumferentially arranged pockets [6 therein near its periphery, a carrier I8 beneath the table adapted to rotate therewith for carrying cans 20 to receive the material from the pockets l6, and a can conveyor 22 for feeding the cans to the carrier I 8 and receiving the cans when supplied with the garnish from the carrier.

The spoked carrying shafts 4 of the hopper feeding devices are driven in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 3 in proper timed relation to the operation of the screw-conveyor 8 so that the screw conveyor at all times will have suflicient material in it to work at the optimum eificienoy to feed the material in a continuous stream from the hopper. The screw conveyor is made of two pitch so that it may be of relatively small diameter and be rotated at a high speed to deliver the right amount of material in a steady stream from the hopper.

The portion of the sleeve [0 extending from the hopper to the discharge orifice I2 is provided with longitudinally extending flutes 24 which prevent the material from rotating with the screw conveyor and thus insures it being discharged at a uniform rate.

The shafts 4 of the hopper feeding devices,

and the screw-conveyor 8 are so mounted that they may be easily and quickly removed from and replaced in the hopper for cleaning purposes.

Each shaft 4 has its ends detachably secured on the ends of rods 26. Each rod has its inner end extending into an axial socket 28 in the shaft 4 and said inner end is bifurcated to receive a transverse pin 30 in the socket. Upon withdrawing the rods 26 from the sockets 28 the shafts 4 may be removed.

Each rod 26 extends through a sleeve 32 which is mounted to rotate in a sleeve bearing 34. The sleeve bearing 34 on the inner side of the hopper (Fig. 4) is secured to a bracket 36 on the inner side of the hopper. The sleeve bearing 34 at the outer side of the hopper is secured to a transverse channel iron or beam 38 which forms a part of the frame of the machine.

Each rod 26 is detachably secured to its associated sleeve 32 by means of a bayonet joint 40 and the outer end of the rod is provided with a knob 42. By means of the bayonet joints 40 each rod may be detached and withdrawn from its sleeve 32 to enable its inner end to be cleaned and the shafts 4 removed for cleaning purposes.

The worm or screw-conveyor 8 has the outer end of its shaft detachably secured to a shaft 44 by means of a pin and slot connection 46. The other end of the shaft of the screw-conveyor extends through and is mounted to turn in a bearing in a cap 48 that is detachably secured as desired.

on the end of the sleeve I8. Upon removing the cap 48 the screw-conveyor may be removed from the hopper through the sleeve I8. Thus the screw-conveyor may be easily removed and replaced to enable it to be cleaned.

The shaft, is mounted to turn in ball-bearings 88 that are mounted in. a bearing sleeve secured on the underside of the cross-beam 88.

The drive for the two shafts 4 of the hopper feed comprise meshing gears 82 secured on the outer rotatable sleeves 82 so that upon driving one sleeve 82 the other sleeve is driven therewith but in the opposite direction. One of the outer sleeves 32 is thus driven by means of a belt 54 which passes over a pulley 58 secured on said sleeve and a pulley 58 secured on the end of the shaft 44 of the screw-conveyor.

The shaft 44 is driven by a sprocket chain 88 that passes over a sprocket wheel 82 on said shaft, and a sprocket wheel 84 secured on a shaft 88 that is driven by a belt 88 that passes over a pulley 18 on the shaft 88 and a pulley 12 on a shaft I4. The shaft 14 is driven through a variable speed mechanism enclosed within a casing 18 by means of an electric motor I8, the shaft of which is operatively connected with the variabl speed through a belt 88. r

With this construction the hopper feeding devices comprising the shafts 4, and the screwconveyor 8 are driven in proper timed relation as above described and the speed thereof may be varied through the variable drive.

The table I4 is secured on a flat plate 82 which has a depending stud n which is received in the upper end of a hollow shaft 88. The stud 84 is mounted to slide vertically in the shaft 88 and is held from rotary movement therein by means of a key and groove connection 81 with the shaft. The plate 82 and table I4 are supported by means of pins 88 on a disk 88. The disk 88 surrounds a sleeve 92 and is supported on a collar 84 screwthreaded on the sleeve. By adjusting the collar 84 the vertical position of the table may be varied The pins 88 are held in vertical position by extending through apertures in a flange 88 on the sleeve 82. The sleeve 82 has its lower end split and is clamped to the shaft 88 by means of a clamping collar 81 and screw 88.f

Each pocket I8 is made in two sleeve-like sections, the upper section entering the lower sec- .tion and the upper section being secured in an aperture in the table I4. The upper ends of the upper sections of the pockets are substantially flush with the top surface of the table. The lower sections of the pockets I8 extend through and are secured in apertures in-a plate; I88 which issecuredontopoftheflangeih By vertical adjustment of the table I4 b means of th adjusting collar or nut 84 as above described. the top section of all the pockets I8 may be simultaneously adjusted vertically'and thus vary the capacity of the pockets I8.

The lower ends of the lower sections of the pockets I8 are arranged closely adjacent a plate I82 which is secured on uprights I84 on the machine frame. This plate I82 is provided with an arcuate slot or opening I88 of substantially the width of the diameter of the lower sections of the pockets I8 and of a length to be positioned beneath approximately three of the pockets.

with this arrangement during the rotation of table I4 the plate I82 closes the lower ends of the pockets until the pockets reach the slot I88 whereupon the lower ends of the pockets are The can carrier I8 consists of an annular platform having upstanding flanges I88 against which the cans are adapted to be respectively positioned. The can carrier I8 is mounted to rotate with the table l4. The carrier is secured on the top. of standards II8 which have their lower ends secured on a plate II2 that in turn is secured to a sleeve II 4 secured to the hollow shaft 88.

The shaft 88 is mounted to turn in roller bearings H8 in a bearing sleeve H8 on the machine frame. The shaft is driven by means of a gear I28 secured thereon which is engaged by a pinion I22 secured on a shaft I24. This shaft carries a worm wheel I28 which is engaged by a worm I21 on a shaft I28 that is driven through a belt I28 from the variable speed mechanism enclosed within the casing I8.

The cans are removed from the conveyor 22 by means of a guide plate I32 and a star-wheel I24 which successively deposits the canson the can carrier and against the flanges I88. The cans are removed from the carrier by being brought against a guide plate or strip I35 which guides them back on to the can conveyor.

The table I4 is provided with an upstanding peripheral flange I38. Adjacent the top side of the table I4 are a plurality of scrapers or baflies I38 that are secured to brackets I48 projecting from a ring I42 secured to the machine frame.

In the operation of the machine the worm or screw-conveyor 8 and the table are operated in timed relation as above described. The garnish material leaves the hopper in a continuous stream and is deposited upon the rotating table. As the material is carried along it is directed by the baifles I88 in a more or less sinuous path across the tops of the pockets I8 so as to permit the material to fall down into the pockets and upon the closure plate I82. As each pocket approaches the slot I88 in the closure I82, the pocket is filled with the material and any excess material is directed inwardly from the table flange I38 and away from the pockets by an elongated baffle plate I44. Asv

the pockets successively reach a position above the slot I88, the material in the pockets is permitted to fall by gravity through the slot I88 and into the underlying tin can 28, all of the material dropping from the. pocket by the time-the pocket is-again closed by passing the free end of the slot I88. After passing the slot I88 the cans are directed from the carrier on to the conveyor belt 22.

As the pockets pass the end of the baffle plate I44 any excess material is then directed in a more or less sinuous path across the tops of the pockets and when the pockets again reach the hopper discharge, fresh material is again deposited in the pockets and the operation is repeated as the cans are fed to the machine.

In case the can-feeding device omits the positioning of a can against each of the carrier flanges I88 the machine is stopped before the can support reaches the slot I88. This is accomplished by means of a feeler arm I48 which is yieldingly pressed in one direction by means 'of a spring I48 and arranged in position to engage the cans as they are carried by the can carrier. In case one of the can carrier flanges I88 comes opposite the arm I48 without a can. being in position, the arm I48 is permitted to swing inwardly to act through a switch I58 to open the circuit connection with the motor I8, thus stopping the machine.

It will be apparent that with my improved machine predetermined quantities of the garnishing material may be accurately measured and deposited in the cans, and that the quantity of material maybe varied as desired by varying the capacity of the pockets Hi, this being accomplished by vertical adjustment of the table ll. The machine is simple in construction and highly eflicient in operation.

While the features described above are well adapted for use in the type of machine illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that except as defined in the claims certain features of the invention are not limited to use in a machine embodying any or all of the other features.

The nature and scope of the present invention having been indicated, and a machine embodying the several features of the invention in their preferred form having been specifically described, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the

' combination of a table adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis, a plurality of pockets carried by the table having their upper-and lower ends open and their upper ends substantially flush with the top of the table, said pockets being arranged near the periphery of the table and spaced apart, means for rotating the table, means for feeding material on to the top of the table at a point located in the path of the pockets, and means for directing the material on the table back and forth over the tops of the pockets during the rotation of the table.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis, means for thus rotating the table, a plurality of pockets carried by the table having their lower ends open with their upper ends arranged substantially flush with the top of the table, means for feeding material on to the top of the tableat a point located in the path of the pockets, means for causing the material to be moved back and forth over the tops of the pockets as the table rotates so as to permit the material to drop down into the pockets, and means for maintaining the lower ends of the pockets closed until the pockets are filled with the material and then successively opening the lower ends of the pockets to permit the material to discharge therefrom.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a-table adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis, means for thus rotating the table, a plurality of pockets carried by the table having their upper and lower ends open and their upper ends arranged substantially flush with the top of the table, each pocket being made of a plurality of sections adapted to be adjusted to vary the capacity of the pocket, means for thus adjutsing the sections of all of the pockets comprising a member rotatable with the table having apertures in which the lower ends of the pockets are secured, and means for adjusting said member vertically, means for causing the material on the table to pass back and forth over the tops of the pockets during the rotation of the table to permit the material to drop down into the pockets, and means for maintaining the lower ends of the pockets closed until the material has filled the pockets and thereafter successively opening the pockets to permit the discharge of the material.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis, means for feeding the material on to the top of the table, a plurality of pockets carried by the table near the outer periphery thereof having their upper and lower ends open and their upper ends arranged substantially flush with the top of the table, and means comprising a series of deflectors arranged over the top of the table for causing the material to be alternately directed in different directions across the tops of the pockets during the rotation of the table, and means for maintaining the lower ends of the pockets closed until each pocket reaches a predetermined point in its travel and then opening the pockets to permit the discharge of the material, said feeding means delivering the material upon the table at a point located in the path of the pockets.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis, means for thus rotating the table, a plurality of pockets carried by the table arranged near the periphery thereof and spaced apart, said pockets having their upper and lower ends open and their upper ends arranged substantially fiush with the top of the table, means for feeding containers about the axis of the table with each container positioned beneath one of the pockets, means for feeding material on to the top of the table at a point located in the path of the pockets, means for causing the material to be directed back and forth over the tops of the pockets as the table is rotated so as to permit the material to be dropped down into the pockets, and means for maintaining the pockets closed until each pocket reaches a predetermined point in its travel and for then opening the pocket to permit the material to drop down into the underlying container.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis, a plurality of pockets carried by the table arranged near the periphery thereof, spaced equal distances from the axis thereof and spaced apart, said pockets having their upper and lower ends open and their upper ends substantially flush with the top of the table, means for feeding material on to the top of the table at a point located in the path of the pockets, means for directing the material backand forth over the pockets during the rotation of the table to permit the material to drop down into the pockets, means for feeding cans beneath the table with each can positioned directly beneath one of the pockets and after each can has traveled about the axis of the table feeding the cans from beneath the table, and means for maintaining the lower ends of the pockets closed until after each pocket is filled and reaches a predetermined point in its travel and then causing the lower end of the pocket to open to permit the material therein to drop down into the can below.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis, a plurality of pockets carried by the table having their upper and lower ends open and their upper ends arranged substantially flush with the top of the table, said pockets being spaced apart and arranged equal distances from the axis of the table, means for feeding material on to the top of the table at a point located in the path of the pockets, means for directing material back and forth over the tops of the pockets during the rotation of the table to permit the material to drop down into the pockets, means for closing the lower ends of the pockets until each pocket reaches a predetermined position and then opening the pocket to permit discharge of the material, a carrier spaced a distance below said table and adapted to be rotated about the vertical axis of the table,

means for rotating said table and carrier together in one direction, means for successively feeding cans on to the carrier at a predetermined oint in the travel thereof and for positioning each can beneath one of said pockets whereby when each can with its associated pocket reaches said predetermined position of the pocket, the material in the pocket is Permitted to drop b gravity into the can, and means for successively feeding the cans from the carrier after the material has thus been deposited therein.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis, means for thus rotating the table, a plurality of pockets carried by the table having their upper ends open and arranged substantially flush with the top of the table, said pockets being spaced apart and arranged near the periphery of the table, a hopper for receiving garnishing material, means inthe hopper for mixing the material, means for feeding the material from the hopper on to the table comprising a double pitch screw conveyor, and a sleeve into which the screw conveyor extends having a discharge orifice through which the material is discharged from the screw conveyor on to the table at a point located in the path of the pockets, said sleeve having its interior wall provided with longitudinally extending flutes that tend to prevent the material rotating with said screw conveyor.

9. m a machine of the class described, the

, rial to drop by gravity from said point upon the table in the path of said pockets, and means 

